In an era of non-stop cricket and excessive player workloads, the Kiwis are an oddity, having last played a one-day international way back on March 4 against the West Indies in Auckland. They now come to India from bitterly cold winter conditions at home Captain Stephen Fleming, one of the shrewdest captains in the modern game, chose to put a positive spin on the challenge awaiting New Zealand in the group B opener at the Brabourne stadium. "The long break has actually been a blessing in disguise," said Fleming.
"We have had ample rest and the boys are raring to go again. "It's not that we did not play at all. Eight of us played county cricket in England while the bowlers took it easy.
" With pace spearhead Shane Bond ruled out of the opening match with a stiff back, the fortunes of the 2000 Champions Trophy winners in Kenya will rest on how versatile left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori performs on the slow Indian wickets. Fleming said it was "hugely disappointing" to lose his premier fast bowler at the start of the 10-nation tournament. "The good thing is that maybe the injury will not affect us so much on the slow wickets in India.
It gives the other bowlers a chance to grab South Africa, meanwhile, are determined to live up to their status as the number two team in limited-overs cricket after world champions Australia. Captain Graeme Smith stressed his team was not distracted by the drama surrounding Herschelle Gibbs' appearance before the New Delhi police last week to answer charges of his involvement in match-fixing in 2000. "The Gibbs probe is over and he and the rest of us can finally get back to doing what we do best, that is play cricket," said Smith.
South Africa need the seasoned Gibbs at his best as they aim to take one of the two semi-final spots from the group that includes Pakistan and in-form Sri Lanka. When South Africa successfully chased Australia's 434-4 in an astonishing one-dayer in Johannesburg in March, Gibbs lashed 175 off 111 balls with 21 boundaries and seven sixes. "In this tournament the emphasis will be on scoring runs while the ball is still hard and for that reason it is not out of the question that Herschelle could return as opening batsman," said Arthur.
Leading all-rounder Jacques Kallis, veteran wicket-keeper Mark Boucher, the experienced Shaun Pollock and fast bowler Makhaya Ntini ensure South Africa run deep with both bat and ball.
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